Small Tech, Big Impact: Spreading the Gospel with ‘Mustard Seeds’
This article was first published in our biannual magazine, In Touch. You can download the whole issue for free today.
In Matthew 13, Jesus shares the parable of the mustard seed, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown, it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ At 100fold, we drew inspiration from this vision of small beginnings leading to a profound impact. We started with MicroSD cards – tiny yet powerful tools – and packed them with gospel content and Scripture. These cards, known as Mustard Seeds, were designed to bring hope to people in remote, persecuted, and contested areas by providing access to the gospel on their phones without requiring internet connectivity.
From there, we developed a custom Android app tailored to each ministry partner so as to make the content more accessible and meaningful. The app can be fully customised with logos, colours, layouts, and, most importantly, the local language. Additional features include a media player that works seamlessly across Android versions, a sharing tool for spreading content, and a connection feature for users to reach ministry partners with questions.
We also addressed challenges unique to working in restricted regions. To prevent misuse (such as hostile parties exploiting digital Scriptures), we developed technology to protect the content. We also implemented measures to lock the MicroSD cards, ensuring the original content couldn’t be erased or replaced, protecting against corruption or unauthorised use.
Another challenge arose when ministry partners struggled to locate resources in their languages or secure digital permissions. Determined to bridge this gap, we collaborated with over 100 ministries producing Gospel media in more than 1,000 languages. This effort resulted in agreements that gave us access to over 100,000 files, enabling ministries worldwide to distribute Gospel content effectively.
Delivering the hope of the gospel to the poor and isolated
Today, Mustard Seeds deliver the hope of the Gospel to the poor, isolated, persecuted, and war-torn while safeguarding users’ privacy, overcoming content blocking, and providing materials in their languages. Over 400,000 Mustard Seeds have been distributed. While security concerns limit the stories we can share, here are a few that help illustrate how Mustard Seeds are used.
A husband and wife came to faith inside a closed country and began ministering to drug addicts. One of the addicts they helped was a thief. He would steal SD cards from people, wipe them clean, and resell them. One day he stole a memory card from this couple that he couldn’t erase. The memory card – one of the Mustard Seeds we created – was full of gospel content. Through it, he got the message that God loved him. He confessed to this couple that he had stolen their Mustard Seed and they had the privilege of leading him to Christ. (No Photo)
Fifty Mustard Seeds loaded with gospel material in French, made their way to a Bible School in Côte d’Ivoire. Pastors from the rural areas gathered and were given one each by a 100Fold partner, Friends In Action. There was much rejoicing when they discovered that the Mustard Seed also contained the Bible and teaching in their heart language of Boule, many pastors then planned outreach activities using the Mustard Seeds. (Photo of Students behind desks)
Rosie has been ministering in Papua New Guinea since 1998, teaching evangelism and discipleship to children, ladies, and Sunday School teachers. Recently Rosie took one thousand Mustard Seeds to distribute at a youth conference and to local pastors – and she commented that she could have distributed many more! (Photo of people standing showing their Mustard Seed)
The story of the Mustard Seed is one of overcoming obstacles to bring the hope of the Gospel to those with the least access to it. However, one of the greatest challenges remains getting Mustard Seeds into the hands of those who need them most, especially when financial resources are scarce. Each Mustard Seed costs just £6 to produce, but for many frontline missionaries and pastors, even this small cost is beyond reach.
That’s why we launched the Seed Sower campaign. By sponsoring one or more Mustard Seeds, individuals, small groups, and churches can directly place the Gospel into the hands of those who might otherwise go without. And the impact doesn’t end there – you’ll receive updates showing where your Mustard Seeds have been ‘planted’ and how they are changing lives. Will you help sow the seeds of the Gospel today? Learn more and get involved at https://100fold.org/seedsower/.
